SOURCE: CMC – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Tuesday said the island’s first prime minister, Patrick Ronald John had made a “tremendous contribution” to the socio-economic development of the island.
John, who was the island’s first prime minister, died at the Dominica-Friendship Hospital on Tuesday a few hours after he had been taken to the institution on Monday night. He was 83 years old.
“One can say whatever they want about Patrick John, but you cannot erase the fact that he made a tremendous contribution to Dominica’s development,” Skerrit said as he expressed condolences to John’s family on behalf of the country.
“There are a number of interventions he would have done in his tenure and prime minister of Dominica. Being in political life is a huge challenge. Often times the gratitude is not displayed and extended by our citizens and I am sure Patrick John would have experienced this,” Skerrit added.
Skerrit said that John, popularly known as “PJ”, who led Dominica to independence from the United Kingdom on November, 3 1978, was also a leader of the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and that his contribution to the party “would always remain part of our history.
“We are saddened by his death but we know he has not been well for some time. He is known in sports, particularly football and he has really made his contribution and so may his soul rest in peace,” Skerrit said, indicating that the government would be responsible, tether with the family for his funeral.
“We will also have the flag flown at half mast,” he added.
General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Association (DPSA), Thomas Letang, said that John would also be remembered for his activities in the trade union movement.
“We are saddened by his passing and as we all know Patrick was very instrumental and very much involved in the trade union movement in Dominica
“ I cannot ignore the tremendous work that he was involved in on behalf of the workers especially those who work on the port …and what Patrick did to make sure that representation was given to the employees. One will forever be grateful for his work,”” Letang added.
